Transcript The Wheel of Life

The Wheel of Life
Samsara
Kamma
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Kamma P (Karma) S
Samsara: cycle of birth, death and rebirth
Fuelled by the three poisons
The three poisons affect our thoughts, thoughts
affect our actions
• Actions affect rebirth
• If actions are motivated by greed, hatred and
ignorance they will have negative or bad karmic
consequences for us
• Kamma literally means action
The Law of Kamma
• Some of our action are motivated by negative emotions
• The intention behind the action will create good or bad
kamma
• All intentional actions have consequences
• The Law of Kamma is a natural law of cause and effect,
it is “the law of cause and effect related to intentional
action”
• Thoughts lead to actions, actions lead to consequences
• Kamma affects rebirth
• Good actions with good intentions lead to a better rebirth
• Bad actions with bad intentions lead to poorer rebirths
Good/Bad action
• Kamma can be either good or bad
• The consequences of our actions may not
follow immediately
• Kamma accumulates through this life and
is carried over to he next rebirth
• Kamma from previous lives is also added
• An action performed with a bad intention in
a previous life may be experienced in this
life
Skilful/Unskilful Action
• Buddhists talk about skilful and unskilful actions
• Skilful actions lead to enlightenment and are
free from the effects of the three poisons
• Skilful actions are motivated by wisdom and
compassion
• Unskilful actions bind the unenlightened to
Samsaric rebirth
• Intentions carry consequences: doing something
accidentally carries little or no karmic
consequences
• HOWEVER!!!!!
Merit
• Good merit can be achieved by helping
the monastic community
• Giving alms to monks
• Helping with manual tasks
• Listening to teachings
• Volunteering at an orphanage
Kamma and Control
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Kamma is not a punishment for wrong
There is no God administering justice
Our own chosen actions affect our kamma
Kamma is a sign that sentient beings are in
control of their own rebirth
• According to the law of kamma, we are masters
of our own destiny
• We have a choice, the choice will effect rebirth
for a Buddhist